Emma

Young, beautiful and wealthy Emma Woodhouse spends her time match-making others with little concern for her own romantic life. This amusing dramatization was originally produced for BBC Radio broadcast. The full-cast production is delightful, and dramatic musical interludes add to the performance. This is superior quality audio in all aspects and certain to be enjoyed by many, whether fans of radio drama, romantic comedy or classics. E.L.C. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Taking an academic tone, Stevenson's solemn reading, punctuated by interludes of classical music, gives the listener a feeling of being educated, rather than entertained. The abridgment is somewhat awkward at times and, though faithful to the story, loses track of the lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek tone that Austen had in mind. Stevenson's Emma sometimes comes off as mean or unpleasant in dialogues that were meant to poke fun at her capricious ideas. Though well paced and nicely produced, it's a little heavy-handed for a story meant more as comedy than drama. K.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine